Wellesley in China

The capitulation of Wellesley College in its relationship to the Chinese government concerning a central standard of academic freedom and the right of free speech in the case of Prof. Xia Yeliang is one more indication of how American higher education has more and more adopted business standards to replace academic standards as set forth by the American Association of University Professors, for example.

College presidents have become business-focused chief executives, and academic standards, not to mention basic American standards, have had to be compromised to improve the “bottom line.”

HOWARD WINNPoughkeepsie, N.Y., Dec. 12, 2013

The writer is emeritus professor of English at SUNY Dutchess and emeritus president of Dutchess United Educators, American Federation of Teachers.

To the Editor:

The split between administrative and academic opinions on this issue between being expedient or sticking to your values points to an all-pervasive problem in our society. We teach our students to behave ethically, only to abandon our principles when it comes to material gain and power.

The idea that compromise would be good for our principles in the long run is a fallacy.

KLAUS PETERSSherborn, Mass., Dec. 12, 2013

A version of this letter appears in print on December 17, 2013, on Page A28 of the New York edition with the headline: Wellesley in China. Today's Paper|Subscribe